Composition of planting media and biological agents to improve physical and chemical properties of soil

Abstract

This research aims to study the effect of various compositions of soil organic matter, zeolite, husk charcoal and biological agents on physical and soil chemical properties of planting media. This research was done in a pot experiment in a greenhouse. The experiment was designed as randomized complete block design (RCBD) factorial. The first factor was type of biological agent consisting of control or without, PGPR and Trichoderma sp. The second factor was composition of media with combination of 50% soil and 50% soil enhancers consisting of goat manure, zeolite and husk charcoal with a combination of 11 combinations. In total there were 33 treatment combination with 3 replications each. Result showed that composition of soil media gave influence on water retention, bulk density, porosity, pH, DHL, C/N ratio, N-total, N-available, P2O5, K2O, C-organic. Planting media with the proportion of goat manure, zeolite and husk charcoal at 3: 1: 2 gives best result when compared to other planting media. It was represented by the highest value of 5.81% C-organic and 0.69% N total. As biological agents, PGPR gives better influence on electrical conductivity at value 291.58 ΠS cm−3.